[UA Gym]
[Point of view: Third Person]
The air in the gym was still permeated with the sensation of effort.
Every drop of sweat, every tense muscle, and every ragged breath spoke volumes about how far Hades had come in a full day of rehab.
He was no longer trembling.
He no longer depended on anyone to keep him moving.
Now he could say goodbye to that damned white-walled cell, under the stern gaze of a stubborn old woman.
Once again, I was free.
When he looked up, he found Midoriya's eyes watching him.
Her first instinct was to wait for his mocking smile, his suppressed laughter, his cutting comments about how clumsy she looked earlier.
But there was no mockery.
Only calm and happiness.
It was such a pure expression that it seemed strange to him.
Before he could say anything, she spoke, her tone banishing any trace of play from her face.
—Tomorrow will be the first day of school.
His tone was serious, his gaze penetrating.
Hades blinked and let out a slight snort, but the smile he'd been forming didn't disappear.
—I guess that means we'll get started on your big plan to save the future, huh?
Midoriya nodded slowly, as if he wanted to record every word he was going to say.
—Starting tomorrow... everything begins.
Hades narrowed his eyes.
The way he said it...
There was something in his voice, in his posture, in the fire that burned behind his gaze.
He had a determination so pure it would overshadow even the brat of Heracles.
—Will you tell me where we're going to start this time, or will you continue with your little games?
Midoriya tilted his head, and for a moment, the mischievous spark in his eyes returned.
—Oh, Hades-kun, don't be impatient.
Hades clicked his tongue.
—You're a fucking pain.
"And yet you still can't get away from me?" she replied with a mocking smile.
Hades didn't respond. He just stared at her, waiting.
Midoriya walked slowly towards him.
"Tomorrow, our head teacher will test us with a silly 'logical trick.'" His tone became a little more amused. "It will be the Quirk Apprehension Test, and..." He paused, letting the sentence hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "Tomorrow we will crush that stupid test."
His footsteps echoed on the ground as he closed the distance between them.
His presence was intense, more than I expected.
Each step brought her closer to the boy until she broke through Hades's personal bubble, yet he didn't move an inch.
Then, with almost calculated gentleness, Midoriya raised his hand and pressed his index finger against the center of his chest.
The contact was light, but the firmness in his gesture said it all.
It wasn't a request.
It was a statement.
Hades looked at her with a mixture of amusement and defiance.
—Take it for granted, Akemi.
She smiled.
A heavy silence settled between them, as if the entire world had stopped for just an instant.
Their heartbeats seemed too loud in her ears.
The girl blushed slightly, and cautiously brought her face closer to the expectant Hades.
Their heartbeats quickened and echoed in both of their ears as they were drawn into a stalemate between the two.
Until, suddenly...
The gym doors swung open.
Hades and Midoriya turned around immediately.
And then they saw them.
Two figures stood in the doorway.
The first, a short old woman, with a stern look and her arms crossed over her chest.
The second...
A tall, sickly thin blond man.
The atmosphere became tense as the four stood in silence, staring at each other with varying expressions of surprise and confusion.
Recovery Girl, who had entered frowning, narrowed her eyes as she noticed the unusual closeness between the two teenagers.
His stern expression gradually softened, giving way to a sly, amused smile.
The blond, on the other hand, was completely perplexed.
The boy he had left at Nezu's hands was now walking, smiling, as close to Midoriya as if they were...
His gaze shifted to his successor.
And that's where his brain collapsed when he saw the very feminine outfit she was wearing.
"Shit..." Midoriya whispered to herself, freezing in place.
Hades also stood still.
His attention was completely on the blond man.
There was something about him that seemed... familiar.
He couldn't quite put his finger on it yet, but his body reacted instinctively, tensing his muscles and slightly lowering his center of gravity.
Recovery Girl, who started walking towards the boy, noticed his stiffness and smiled.
"Did we arrive at a bad time?" he asked in an amused tone, wearing an ominous smile.
Midoriya, on the other hand, tensed up even more.
The blond man tried to get over the initial shock, but he couldn't.
His mind was still processing the revelation that had just hit him like a truck.
Midoriya dressed like a girl.
All this time, he had treated her like a boy, speaking to her as if she were his manly successor.
How could he not have noticed before?
Her hair, always tied up or messy, now fell loose and wet, some strands sticking to her skin.
Her clothes, always loose and masculine, were now a tight tracksuit that showed off her figure even more.
The image he had built of his disciple had shattered.
All Might felt a slight despair as he realized this fact.
But she didn't have time to process it because Recovery Girl had already sprung into action.
He approached Hades and, without warning, hit him on the knee with his staff.
"Argh! What the hell is wrong with you, you old hag?" the boy shouted, backing away sharply.
Recovery Girl nodded to herself.
—Good reflex.
Before he could relax, another blow flew, this time to the shin.
—How is this supposed to be a reflection!
—It's a sensitivity test, you stupid brat.
Hades clicked his tongue in frustration.
But Recovery Girl wasn't done.
He gave him a small blow on the thigh with his stick.
Hades growled.
Another one in the calf.
—Enough, you old hag! I've only just been able to walk, and you want to drag me to that damn white prison?
"You insolent brat!" she smacked him upside the head this time. "Is this how you thank your kind nurse after she's taken care of you all week?"
Hades rubbed his head furiously, his gaze wandering for a few moments, searching for some help from the green-haired girl.
But then...
A strange feeling came over him as his gaze fell on the blond man who couldn't stop trembling.
There was something about him that seemed...too familiar.
I couldn't place where that feeling was coming from.
But it was there.
Present.
Palpable.
Like a whisper in the darkness.
A buried memory trying to come to the surface.
He watched her silently, frowning, trying to decipher the connection his instinct seemed to recognize but his mind couldn't grasp.
Recovery Girl noticed his intense gaze and raised an eyebrow.
—What? Did you fall in love with that old man or something?
Hades flinched slightly at her words and clenched his jaw as he spoke.
—Not in a thousand years.
Recovery Girl laughed, amused.
But the feeling didn't go away.
Meanwhile.
Midoriya knew what was going to happen.
He knew exactly what was going on in his mentor's head.
I saw it on his face.
In his complicated and tense expression.
All Might was still in shock, his shoulders shaking slightly, and his eyes darting around the room when he finally managed to speak...
And he said the worst thing he could have said.
—Young Midoriya... I didn't know you had... such tastes.
Midoriya blinked.
-...That?
All Might was clearly nervous, as he erratically moved his arms.
—But I won't judge! Since, in these times—
He couldn't finish.
Because at that instant, a black whip emerged and wrapped around his arm, silencing him completely.
All Might froze.
And he remembered something he let go of at the time.
His gaze fell on the whips coming out of Midoriya's wrists.
That was the same Quirk he saw in the supermarket attack.
His mind wandered through hundreds of thoughts.
—That was his quirk? Late morning? Since when did he have it? Why didn't he tell me? Did he always have it?Why do I feel the same familiarity with One For All?
But before he could even materialize his thoughts, Midoriya spoke, his voice low and sharp.
—I'll explain later, All Might, but... I'm not gay, I'm a girl.
The hero swallowed.
Now I had many more questions.
But Midoriya's expression told him this was neither the time nor the place.
So, with a sigh, he nodded.
The black whip dissipated.
Midoriya, for his part, also let out a slight sigh of relief.
I didn't want to talk about it, not with two pairs of ears that were oblivious to the situation.
But while she and All Might processed their own situation, Hades was still stuck in that strange feeling.
He kept looking at All Might.
His legs ached from the old woman's blows, but that no longer mattered to him, because something inside him was restless.
That nagging feeling of familiarity gnawed at him, it wasn't just any hunch, but something deeper and more instinctive, and the more he looked at it, the more he recognized it.
Without saying a word, he began walking toward him, each step echoing in his mind as an image began to superimpose itself over the figure of the bony man in front of him.
A tall, muscular man with an imposing presence that seemed strangely familiar.
All Might's eyes widened in surprise, and a smile appeared on his features.
Midoriya, who until recently was thinking about what to say, looked at the boy curiously.
Recovery Girl, on the other hand, watched the scene with an amused smile, as the hero, knowing that his successor was not a "him," desperately wanted to escape the subject.
And the boy was giving him the respite he needed.
—Young Hades, it's a pleasure to meet you—
—I know you.
Hades's tone was serious, All Might froze, and Recovery Girl raised an eyebrow, interested.
Hades continued moving forward, closing the distance with each step.
—You're that muscular mortal who knocked me out after fighting that rabbit woman and the rest of the costumed clowns.
The atmosphere instantly became tense as the memory hit All Might hard.
It was true, that child had been a suspect in the terrorist attack at the time.
The situation escalated to the point that he himself had to intervene despite having reached his limit.
The silence thickened, and for the first time in a long time, All Might felt a cold sweat run down his back.
"Me? Haha... you must be mistaken, young man, we haven't met before," he said with a nervous smile, but his tone was too forced.
Hades grunted in annoyance and closed his eyes, concentrating. Something didn't add up; there was no way his memory could have failed him on this; his instincts had never lied to him.
Silence covered the room like a heavy blanket, and after a few seconds, her eyes opened with absolute certainty.
—You're that guy Akemi mentioned at the supermarket... Al Tigt?
Recovery Girl let out a small laugh, amused by the boy's confusion, while All Might felt his head hurt.
"All Might..." he corrected with a sigh of resignation before releasing a flash of steam.
His muscles grew, his height increased, and his presence filled the room, though his expression was not that of the mighty Symbol of Peace, but rather that of a tired man in no mood to argue.
—How did you know, young Hades...?
Hades crossed his arms, ignoring the pain in his legs as he stared at him.
—Same eye color, your hair is damn the same, and your souls are the same.
All Might didn't seem surprised by the answer and simply nodded, though he quickly returned to his bony state with a grimace of pain.
—This body doesn't let me maintain that shape for long...
"I didn't expect a mortal to have the ability to hide his essence like that," Hades murmured with some interest, although his gaze remained cold.
Midoriya, who until that moment had been watching the situation with mild anxiety, felt a slight relief when he saw that the conversation had deviated from his identity, but that relief faded as soon as he noticed how All Might avoided looking at her directly.
—Young Midoriya... I think... We need to talk in private.
Midoriya felt the weight of his anxiety once again. In his past life, she had never revealed it to him, and he hadn't expected this kind of conversation to happen so suddenly that day.
She nodded with slight hesitation as she looked at Hades.
He, for his part, growled in frustration, his legs hurting terribly from the old woman's blows.
—Hey, Akemi—
But before he could continue speaking, he felt a strong pressure on his wrist.
"All right, brat, you don't have any more time to grunt," Recovery Girl said with a kind smile as she tugged him along tightly. "I need to run one last check-up on you before I discharge you."
Hades tried to resist, but as soon as he made a move to resist, the old woman glared at him. A chill ran down his spine.
Something in his instincts screamed at him that if he challenged this woman, he would lose.
He frowned, but gave up without another word and allowed himself to be dragged.
As they left, Midoriya watched his mentor.
He'd been avoiding looking at her directly, his movements tense, and his face reflected an unusual confusion. She swallowed; she knew this moment would come eventually, but she was never ready to face it.
"So... where do we start?" he said with a nervous laugh, trying to break the ice.
All Might nodded slowly and began walking towards the exit with slow steps.
"I think we need a few drinks..." he murmured, his gaze never leaving the door as if he needed to process the conversation before even starting it.
Midoriya began to follow him, preparing in his mind the possible questions his mentor might ask him.
She had to be ready, she had to handle the conversation with the same coolness with which she had been dealing with everything else.
But then, the question he blurted out hit her harder than she had anticipated.
—Well... this is a little awkward, but... are you really a girl?
Her breath caught in her throat. Her body stiffened for a second, and she almost stopped dead in her tracks. She hadn't expected him to ask her so bluntly.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the unpleasant memories that were beginning to filter into his mind.
—Yes...— his voice was low, but firm.
All Might didn't react immediately.
He took a breath and let the silence settle before asking the next question, his tone serious but nonjudgmental.
—Why didn't you tell me?
Midoriya felt a knot form in his chest.
She stared at the floor for a moment, unsure whether to answer honestly or give a more simplified version, but when she tried to open her mouth, her mind betrayed her.
Images from her past hit her suddenly.
The days when I dreamed of being a hero, of being like All Might.
The moments when boys teased her for her lack of a Gift or her lack of femininity.
The times she heard that girls couldn't be as strong as men.
The bullying she endured at school, the hurtful whispers, the shoving, the nasty looks.
All accumulating in a sea of painful memories that I had tried to bury.
Finally, he took a deep breath and answered truthfully.
—I... thought I wouldn't get very far as a woman...
All Might stopped in front of the door, his hand resting on the knob.
He turned his face to look at her, seeing the way she avoided his gaze. His chest tightened with a sensation he hadn't felt in years.
This was going to be a tough conversation, but I wasn't going to shy away from it.
"There are many strong women in the heroic world," she said, her tone firm but understanding as she walked toward the vending machine. "Mirko is a great example of that."
Midoriya followed him, clenching his fists.
"I... was blinded by that feeling of inferiority," she whispered. "And the bullying I endured didn't help matters much..."
All Might nodded silently as he took out some money and inserted it into the machine.
His fingers tapped on the panel before pressing the buttons.
He took out a can of coffee for him and a grape soda for her.
"I... knew something about your past," he admitted, handing her the soda without looking directly at her. "But I never imagined you'd be a girl..."
Midoriya took the can and held it with both hands, staring at it.
"But don't get me wrong," he continued, opening his can and taking a small sip. "It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman. After all, the previous One For All user, Nana, was my teacher."
Midoriya remained silent.
He closed his eyes for a moment, and remembered the vestige of Nana Shimura, a strong woman, a true heroine... and yet, she had fallen.
Could he really compare himself to someone like that?
"She was amazing," All Might murmured with a faint, nostalgic smile. "And I know you will be too."
Midoriya pressed his lips together and looked down, his fingers playing with the soda can as his mind reeled from the conversation.
His thoughts felt heavy, as if he'd been carrying a weight on his shoulders for years and now, having the chance to let it go, he didn't know where to start.
All Might, for his part, watched her with concern.
The way he pressed his lips together, his slightly hunched shoulders, the subtle trembling of his fingers... Everything told her that what he was feeling at that moment was something he had been suppressing for too long.
He'd never been good at handling complicated emotions. He was a man of action, someone who solved problems with a smile and an inspirational quote, but at this moment, he felt like none of his typical words of encouragement would be enough.
"Young Midoriya..." he began softly, but didn't know how to continue.
Midoriya swallowed, feeling a lump in his throat. He looked at the can in his hands and turned it over between his fingers, as if that would give him the courage to speak.
"When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of being a hero," she said softly. "I always wanted to be like you. No matter what anyone said, no matter that I was born without a Quirk, I was convinced that if I tried hard enough... if I never gave up... I could do it."
All Might remained silent, allowing him to speak uninterrupted.
"But reality soon crushed me." Her voice trembled slightly. "They told me I was ridiculous, that a girl without a Gift could never be a hero. They pushed me, insulted me, made fun of me... and when it wasn't that, it was bullying, nasty whispers, stares."
All Might frowned. He knew his successor had been through some tough times, but hearing her talk about it so vulnerably made his chest ache he hadn't expected.
"There were times when... I thought maybe they were right," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "That maybe I wasn't cut out for this, that I could never be strong enough. But then... you came along."
All Might opened his eyes in surprise.
—When you told me I could be a hero... when you gave me One For All... for the first time in my life, I felt like someone really saw me. —His grip on the can tightened.— But at the same time, the fear never went away.
He was silent for a moment, as if searching for the right words.
"I always thought I had to prove I could be here," she continued. "That if anyone found out I was a girl, they'd say I only got this far because you gave me your power out of pity. That I was never strong enough to do it on my own."
All Might clenched his fists.
"That's not true," he said firmly.
Midoriya looked up, his eyes shining with a mixture of pain and doubt.
"How do you know?" he asked, though his voice was barely a whisper.
All Might was silent for a moment, but then he let out a sigh and placed his can down on the vending machine.
"Because I saw you fight," she said with a faint smile. "I saw you throw yourself at that mud villain even though you had no Quirk. I saw you jump at that giant robot during the entrance exam, not caring that you had no way out unscathed. I saw you use One For All for the first time, without fear, without hesitation."
Midoriya felt his chest tighten.
—I saw how you kept going when things got tough, how you trained until your body couldn't take it anymore. Never, not once, did I see you give up.
His mentor bent down a little to be at his level and placed a hand on his shoulder.
—It wasn't One For All that got you here. It was you. Your determination, your effort, your heart.
Midoriya felt tears start to sting his eyes, but he swallowed them back tightly.
"You are strong, Young Midoriya," All Might continued, his voice softer but just as firm. "Not because you're a girl, not because you have my power. You are strong because you never let the world tell you who you should be."
Midoriya looked down, his lip trembled, and he felt a sob threaten to escape his throat.
"You're a hero, Akemi," he said, using her given name she'd heard from Hades, with the warmth of a mentor who believed in her no matter what.
That was enough for the first tear to roll down his cheek. Midoriya covered his face with the sleeve of his hoodie and let out a small sob.
All Might didn't say anything, just gently patted her back, allowing her to vent without rushing her.
For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to be vulnerable. And All Might, though clumsy in these kinds of situations, did the only thing he could.
He stayed by her side.
Midoriya stood there, his forehead resting on the sleeve of his hoodie as tears silently streamed down his cheeks.
She didn't sob loudly or completely break down, but her body trembled slightly with each labored breath.
All Might didn't take his hand off her back, giving her silent support, not rushing her, not telling her to stop crying.
For a moment, they stood there alone, in that lonely corner of the academy, under the cold light of the vending machine. The distant sound of cicadas and the evening breeze were the only witnesses to their successor's vulnerability.
Midoriya couldn't remember the last time someone had comforted her like this.
Not with empty words, not with encouraging words that felt like empty promises, but with the simple presence of someone who was there, who saw her, who understood her.
He took a deep breath and, after a few seconds, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
"I'm sorry," he murmured with a chuckle. "I didn't mean to be like this."
"You don't have to apologize, young Midoriya," All Might said with a soft smile. "You are human, after all."
Midoriya let out a more sincere laugh this time and finally straightened up, though his face was still red from crying.
"What you said..." Her voice was firmer now, though it still held a hint of fragility. "About me being strong..."
All Might nodded, watching her patiently.
Midoriya clenched his fists and looked down, as if choosing his words carefully.
"I think... part of me still doubts that," she admitted honestly. "But I want to believe your words. I want to be the hero you saw in me."
All Might nodded firmly.
"You don't have to do it alone," he reminded her. "No matter what happens, I'll be here to support you."
Midoriya felt a lump in his throat at those words.
I wish it were true. I wish he could always be by her side, but she knew the truth.
He knew his time was running out.
And I knew that when the time came, I would give everything to prevent it.
He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes tightly for a moment before raising his head, renewed determination in his gaze.
"No matter what happens," he said firmly, his hands shaking slightly as he balled them into fists. "I'm going to do everything in my power to save the future."
All Might smiled proudly, not noticing the hidden weight behind those words.
For him, that was the promise of a young heroine who wanted to protect the world.
She didn't understand that, in the heart of her successor, that promise carried the weight of a devastated future, of corpses in ruins, of a hell that she was willing to destroy with her own hands.
He just saw a young woman full of determination, and he felt that everything was going to be okay.
"That's a great promise, young Midoriya," he said in a warm tone as his figure grew and stopped being a skeletal man. "And I know you will keep it."
Midoriya looked down for a moment, hiding the shadow in his eyes.
"Yes..." she whispered, forcing a smile. "I'll keep it."
And with that, the conversation ended. But deep down, Midoriya knew that promise wasn't as simple as All Might believed.
Because to save the future... I was willing to do anything.
All Might let out a sigh and stretched a little, relaxing his shoulders as he finished his coffee.
He knew the previous conversation had been difficult for Midoriya, so he decided to change the subject.
"So tell me, young Midoriya," he began in a lighter tone. "How did you meet young Hades? He doesn't seem like the kind of person you run into every day."
Midoriya, who had just taken a sip of his grape soda, nearly choked on the fizz when he heard the question. He swallowed hard and coughed a little, his face turning slightly red as he glanced at All Might out of the corner of his eye.
—Ah... well... that, —he murmured, fiddling with the can in his hands.
All Might raised an eyebrow in curiosity, noticing her nervousness.
"Anything I should be worried about?" he asked jokingly, leaning his elbow on the vending machine.
Midoriya let out a nervous laugh and shook his head.
"No, no, it's nothing like that... it's just that..." she sighed and finally decided to speak. "The first time I saw him was months ago, but it was a very brief encounter."
"Oh?" All Might tilted his head slightly. "How was that?"
Midoriya sighed and leaned his back against the wall, remembering that day with some nostalgia.
"It was when Bakugou stopped me after school to yell at me about how he was going to be the greatest hero. He said that even though I had helped him, it didn't change the fact that he was a 'Deku.'" His voice became a little softer, but not hurt, as if he were recounting something far away.
All Might frowned slightly.
—Young Bakugou... always so intense.
Midoriya let out a small laugh.
—Yeah, well... right in the middle of that, Hades appeared.
All Might looked at her in surprise.
—He appeared? Just like that?
"Yeah... and somehow, he 'saved' me," she said, making air quotes with her fingers as she laughed softly. "Though really, he just interrupted Bakugou and they started arguing about something completely absurd."
All Might blinked.
—Arguing? About what?
"Well..." He put a hand to his forehead, trying to contain his laughter. "Hades kept referring to Bakugou as 'mortal,' and he called Hades 'extra.' They both got so angry they started yelling at each other." A smile spread across his face as he fondly recalled. "The argument got so absurd they looked like two grumpy chihuahuas yelling at each other."
All Might burst out laughing.
—That... sounds incredibly chaotic.
Midoriya nodded with a smile.
—It was. But at the time, it seemed so strange and comical that I completely forgot what Bakugou had told me earlier. I guess, in a way, Hades really did save me... though I don't think he meant to.
All Might smiled in amusement, but then his expression became more thoughtful.
—Hades seems... a bit peculiar. But when did you see him again?
Midoriya put the empty can aside and crossed his arms.
—I saw him again at the entrance exam, it was... kind of chaotic.
—Ah, yes, the exam— All Might nodded, remembering the broadcast—. If I recall correctly, they destroyed the zero-point robot, right?
Midoriya nodded.
—Well, we destroyed it together, albeit separately. We both attacked at the same time.
All Might blinked in surprise.
-Oh really?
—Yeah. I remember passing out after breaking my arm and leg... and when I woke up in the infirmary, Hades was there too. We talked a lot that night, and that's when I learned that... he lived under a bridge.
All Might frowned.
—Under a bridge?
—Yes. He was homeless... so after getting to know him a little better, I tried to convince him to come to my house.
—Did you make it?
Midoriya shook his head.
"No. He flatly refused, saying he didn't need help or charity from a mortal." He rolled his eyes, remembering Hades's attitude. "So I let him go... but that night..." Midoriya gulped, remembering what happened. "That night, a very powerful storm hit."
All Might was silent for a moment, understanding what that meant.
-AND...?
"And he almost died of hypothermia," Midoriya sighed, crossing his arms in annoyance. "I found him the next day, he was a wreck, shivering and on the verge of passing out."
—God... —All Might ran a hand over his face.
—Yeah... after that, I took him home by force. I wasn't going to let him freeze to death because of his stubbornness.
All Might stood there thinking about everything he had just heard, processing every piece of the story.
"Looks like young Hades has been through a lot," he said finally.
—Yes... but he'll never admit it. — Midoriya smiled wistfully. — He says he's a god, but sometimes I wonder if he's just holding on to that... personality? So he won't let others walk all over him.
All Might looked at her carefully.
—And you... what do you think it is?
Midoriya was silent for a moment before answering.
"I don't know," she admitted honestly. "But what I do know... is that I want to help him."
All Might smiled softly.
—That's very like you, young Midoriya.
She just smiled back, but deep down, she knew it wasn't just kindness that drove her.
She couldn't afford to be just nice, Hades was a key piece in her mission, a singularity that never appeared in her original line.
And I couldn't lose it.
All Might sighed and stood up, stretching his shoulders a little as he looked at Midoriya with a tired smile.
—I have to go with Principal Nezu to a meeting about work. You'd better go with young Hades; he's probably already fighting with Chiyo.
Akemi nodded, still feeling the weight of the previous conversation weighing on her chest. However, before All Might could leave, she quickly approached and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you..." she whispered, clutching his left side.
All Might blinked, surprised by the gesture, but his smile softened instantly.
He lovingly ruffled her hair before transforming into his muscular form with a flash of energy and smoke.
"You don't have to thank me, young Midoriya." She winked at him before flexing her legs. "See you in class!"
With a powerful leap, he shot out toward an open window on the highest floor.
Akemi sighed with a slight smile on her face.
For the first time in a long time, she now felt better about herself.
"I wish we'd had this kind of conversation earlier," he said, with a hint of resignation.
So, he shook his head to get rid of that thought and took out his phone as he walked towards the infirmary.
He quickly dialed his mother's number, hoping she would answer.
The doorbell rang no more than once when he answered.
"Akemi? Is everything okay?" Inko's voice sounded somewhat worried on the other end of the line.
—Yes, Mom, everything's fine. I just wanted to ask you to come pick up Hades and me.
"Hades too?" Inko asked, sounding more cheerful. "Sure, I'm on my way. How's he doing?"
Akemi smiled slightly.
—Fully recovered... although he's still himself.
Inko laughed softly.
—I'm on my way, I won't be long.
Akemi hung up and quickened her pace, arriving at the infirmary.
Akemi stopped in front of the infirmary door and raised an eyebrow at the discussion inside.
—I already said I don't need a ridiculous costume!
"A hero suit isn't just for show, brat," Recovery Girl replied calmly. "It's a fundamental tool for your performance."
—I can fight without that nonsense.
Akemi leaned her back against the wall, smiling in amusement as she listened to the argument. It wasn't the first time Hades had been stubborn about something.
"Oh, right..." he thought suddenly. "I've already sent him a suit design."
He took out his phone and swiped until he found the sketch he had sent to the UA technical support team.
Suddenly, she felt a little nervous.
Hades wasn't easy to please, but... maybe he'd like her.
He took a deep breath and entered the infirmary with all the energy he could muster.
"Don't worry, I already did it!" he announced, taking out his phone and showing her the design.
Hades turned to her with annoyance and surprise on his face, but as soon as his eyes fell on the screen, his expression changed subtly.
His pupils scanned every detail of the sketch, the structure, the dark and red colors, the mask he was wearing.
He just liked it.
But, having said that he did not want one, he could not take it back.
"Tch... it's ugly," he grumbled, crossing his arms with feigned indifference.
But before Akemi could respond, her expression suddenly changed.
Haruto took control, leaning towards the screen with a radiant smile.
—I love it! It's amazing, Akemi-chan!
The aforementioned laughed as Hades internally struggled to regain control.
"Whatever..." he muttered, looking away.
Recovery Girl shook her head in resignation.
—At least someone here has good taste and cares about this ungrateful brat.
Akemi put away her phone and leaned against the stretcher next to her.
—Anyway, there's no rush. It'll be a while before my mom gets home.
Hades frowned at her.
—How far away are we?
—About an hour by car.
Hades clicked his tongue.
—Great, now I have to put up with the annoying mortal for an hour.
"Oh, calm down. I have to put up with you too," Akemi replied with a sarcastic smile as she sat down.
Hades growled, but didn't respond.
Time began to pass between petty arguments and cutting remarks. Akemi found a strange amusement in teasing Hades, especially when she knew his reactions were exaggerated.
—So... you really think chicken soup is better than katsudon?
Hades looked at her with an expression of disbelief.
—It's not even a competition. Chicken soup is perfect. Warm, comforting, full of flavor and nutrients. Katsudon is just a pile of rice with fried meat on top.
Akemi pretended to be shocked.
—How dare you! Katsudon is a dish filled with love and dedication. It's the essence of happiness in food form.
—It is the food of unrefined mortals.
—And you are a god with no sense of taste.
Hades glared at her, but Akemi just laughed. The conversation continued in this manner, moving from food to other trivial matters. At some point, Haruto took control again and began talking animatedly about the dishes he always wanted to try when he was living on the streets.
Akemi listened silently, nodding occasionally. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness imagining what must have happened.
Finally, an hour later, the infirmary door opened and Inko's figure appeared.
His presence seemed to change the atmosphere immediately.
"I see you're okay, Hades-kun," he said with a warm smile as he approached.
Hades looked at her with a mixture of recognition and something harder to define.
"Inko..." he murmured, not knowing exactly how to react.
As Recovery Girl handed the medical report to Inko, Akemi glanced at Hades.
—When we get there, we can see how the UA uniform looks on you for tomorrow!
Hades growled.
—I don't need you to dress me up like a jester.
Haruto emerged with a radiant smile.
—But I do like it! Thanks, Akemi-chan!
The girl laughed as Inko looked at them tenderly.
—Come on, I'll take you home before you start fighting anymore.
They left the infirmary, with Hades muttering something about not needing a suit, Akemi hiding a smile, and Haruto assuring them that he would be the best hero of all.
From a security screen, Nezu and All Might watched the scene.
"They're certainly very interesting," Nezu commented with an enigmatic smile. "It's good that your successor is spending time on my project."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[A couple of minutes later]
Hades observed the vehicle with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
It wasn't his first time seeing a car, but his experience inside one was limited to the ambulance that had taken him to the hospital a week ago.
That time, he was too stunned and upset by his condition to pay attention to his surroundings.
Now it was different.
Akemi opened the back door and gave him a slight nod.
-Please...
Hades looked at her out of the corner of his eye, assessing her intentions, but he didn't notice anything strange.
With a slight, haughty smile, he entered the car and sat down elegantly, as if it were a throne worthy of his presence.
However, as soon as she settled in, Akemi added innocently:
—Ladies first.
The atmosphere froze for a second.
Hades blinked, his brain slowly processing what had just happened.
Akemi had tricked him.
He, a god, had been deceived by a mere mortal.
"You..." he whispered, his voice tense.
But before he could react, he felt a shove. Akemi climbed into the car and forced him to slide to the other end of the seat.
He growled with suppressed fury, feeling the blood rush to his head.
—Akemi...!
"Don't bother the boy so much, he's just recovered," Inko intervened from the driver's seat as she put on her seatbelt and started the car.
Akemi laughed softly as she closed the door, taking out her phone without paying any further attention to it.
Hades frowned, crossing his arms in indignation.
"I'm not just a boy," he muttered under his breath, still annoyed.
"Sure, sure," Akemi replied with a mocking smile, without taking her eyes off her screen.
Hades snorted and looked away towards the window, choosing to ignore her.
The car started smoothly, gliding through the illuminated streets of the nighttime city. Hades leaned his elbow on the door and watched intently the neon lights flickering on the buildings, the streetlights lining the road, the advertisements flashing on the screens of the skyscrapers.
Everything looked different from this perspective.
Before, when he'd wandered the streets like a vagabond, the city seemed immense, as if it were crushing him with its coldness. Now, inside the car, he saw it from a different angle. The lights reflecting off the windows, the vibration of the engine, the warmth of the seat beneath him... everything was new.
Inside his mind, Haruto was excited.
—Wow, I've never seen the city like this! Look at that, Hades, it's beautiful. Look at those lights! And the signs! There's a ramen stand there! I'm so hungry!
Hades closed his eyes for a moment, containing the tide of enthusiasm that came from his other half.
—Stop shouting, Haruto... —he muttered to himself.
"Did you say something?" Akemi asked, still staring at her phone.
"Nothing," he replied curtly.
Time passed in comfortable silence.
Inko drove calmly, focused on the road.
The glow from the streetlights reflected off his face, giving him a calm appearance, although Hades knew there was much more emotion behind that expression than he let on.
Akemi, for her part, continued checking something on her phone, her brows slightly furrowed.
Hades turned his gaze back to the window. The world continued to pass before him.
After a while, Akemi broke the silence.
"What do you think of the costume I sent to UA?" he asked casually.
Hades growled softly, not in anger, but rather with some resignation.
"I like it the way it is..." he admitted, without taking his eyes off the glass.
Akemi, surprised, blinked a few times before speaking.
—Huh? Really?
Hades looked away from her for a second, then back at the window.
"The black color and the red details will enhance my image as a god," he added proudly.
Akemi smiled, amused by his comment.
"My image as a god," he repeated mockingly. "Hades, this is a hero's costume, not a robe to sit in on your throne in the Underworld."
Hades glared at her, but she only showed him her phone screen, where the design was displayed in high resolution.
"Take a good look at it," he insisted. "If there's anything you don't like, I can change it before it's fully manufactured."
Hades hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching for the phone. Akemi raised an eyebrow, as if watching a wild animal cautiously approach something.
The light from the device illuminated the interior of the car, projecting the design clearly.
Hades tilted his head slightly and fixed his eyes on the sketch.
His expression became more serious, analyzing every detail of the costume Akemi had created.
Was...
Awesome.
Not just in aesthetics, but in functionality. There were no ridiculous colors or unnecessary embellishments. The combination of black and red gave it an intimidating yet elegant presence. The design was practical, and it looked easy to move.
It was perfect.
But I couldn't admit it.
"Tch... it's ugly," he muttered with feigned indifference.
Akemi raised an eyebrow, not believing his reaction for a second.
"Of course, of course..." he said in a mocking tone, identical to the one he had used before.
Without warning, Hades's expression changed.
Haruto took control, his eyes shining with excitement.
"I love it!" she exclaimed with a radiant smile. "It's amazing, Akemi-chan! Thank you!"
Akemi burst out laughing.
—I see that your bipolarity is still present.
Hades blinked as he regained control and crossed his arms with an annoyed expression.
—Stop talking like I'm not here...
Akemi just laughed and put away the phone.
Inko, who had remained silent, gave an amused smile as she took a detour onto the highway.
"I'm glad you're getting along," he commented calmly.
"I don't get along with her!" Hades snapped immediately.
Akemi rested her head on her hand, feigning a dramatic sigh.
—Oh, how cruel... after everything I've done for you...
—Don't start.
—And to think I designed a suit for you with so much love and dedication...
—I hate you.
—Yes, yes, of course.
Hades snorted and looked back at his phone, cautiously running his fingers across the screen, zooming in to see every detail of the design more precisely.
His gaze became analytical, almost stern, as he examined every part of the suit.
First, he noticed the mask and hood.
The black design with red accents gave it an intimidating air, and the side filters vaguely reminded him of the gas masks used in war.
"What are these things for?" he asked without looking up.
Akemi, for her part, smiled at the boy's curiosity.
—They're filters that will allow you to breathe, but they can't filter out smoke or anything like that. For now, they're part of an auxiliary communication system. You'll be able to talk to whoever you want without needing an external headset.
Hades growled softly, but inside he was confused.
I didn't know why I would need to breathe in the smoke or communicate without an external headset.
I just didn't understand the functionality of it.
But he continued to look down at the torso and armor. The tight-fitting suit with armored plates distributed protection evenly. It didn't seem to restrict movement, which was crucial.
"The plates... they seem light," he murmured.
"Exactly," Akemi replied. "I ordered them made of carbon fiber. It protects against strong blows and cuts, although it's not infallible. I don't want you to rely completely on the armor, but it'll give you a margin of safety."
Hades nodded slowly. The idea of having decent protection without losing mobility was acceptable.
He then looked at the arms and gauntlets. He noticed metal plates reinforcing the forearms and extending to the shoulder.
"These plates on the forearms..." he murmured, tapping the phone screen to zoom in. "They look thicker than the rest of the suit."
"Yes!" Akemi confirmed enthusiastically. "They're gauntlets designed to absorb the recoil when you use your first skeleton's sonic wave. I don't want you to break your arms every time you use it, so the armor has an internal cushioning system."
Hades raised an eyebrow. It was true that every time he used Larry's ability, the recoil was annoying and even dangerous if he wasn't prepared. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but... it was a useful improvement.
"Hmph... at least you thought of something useful," he said in a dry tone.
Akemi rolled her eyes and smiled.
Hades then turned his attention to the legs and shoulder pads. He noticed the additional reinforcements on the knees and thighs, as well as the armored plates on the shoulders.
"And these parts... they don't seem to be there just for protection," he commented with interest.
"Exactly," Akemi said proudly. "If your second weapon is a giant sword, you need reinforcements to handle the weight and force of the impact. The armor on your legs will help withstand the pressure when you're moving at high speed, and the shoulder pads are reinforced to prevent dislocation if you perform a downward strike at full force."
Hades narrowed his eyes.
—How do you know all that?
"I did my homework," he replied, putting on a big, confident smile, but quickly lowered his voice to whisper near her ear. "Besides, I spent years analyzing Quirks and helping a pink-haired girl who specialized in the support team..."
Hades growled under his breath.
For a moment he forgot that the girl in his ear had stepped back in time.
Finally, he looked at the suit again. The combination of black with red details gave it an intimidating yet elegant look.
"The red lines..." he gestured. "Are they decorative?"
"Yes," Akemi confirmed. "I thought you'd like a more striking design, but without losing that... dark and mysterious god vibe you boast about so much."
Hades frowned and looked away.
—It's unnecessary.
Akemi smiled.
—But you like it.
—It's ugly.
He checked the tactical belt. It had compartments and metal buckles for attaching additional gear.
—You have plenty of pockets here.
"It never hurts to carry tools," Akemi said with a smile. "We never know what kind of missions or situations we'll face in the future, so having space for extra equipment can save us on more than one occasion."
Hades could not refute him.
Akemi looked at him with satisfaction.
—So... you like it?
Hades frowned and looked away, roughly handing her the phone.
—It's ugly.
Akemi rolled her eyes, but before she could respond, Haruto chimed in with a much softer and more enthusiastic voice as he raised his arms above his head.
—I love it! It's the coolest suit I've ever seen!
Akemi smiled warmly.
—I knew you'd like it.
Hades clicked his tongue, handing the phone back to the green-haired girl.
Akemi smiled softly as she delved into her personal notes.
As the car sped through the city lights, a strange feeling settled in Hades's chest. He didn't know what it was, but he couldn't stop thinking about one thing:
—This suit... was really made for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The car ride was peaceful.
Night had already fallen over the city, and the lights of the buildings flashed past the window. Hades, his head resting against the glass, gazed at the cityscape with sleepy eyes.
Unable to help it, he let out a big yawn and brought a hand to his mouth.
A second later, her stomach growled loudly, causing her ears to turn slightly red.
Akemi, who was still checking her phone, laughed softly.
—Hehe, looks like I'm not the only one hungry.
Just then, his own stomach growled loudly.
"Oh, come on! Don't betray me like that now!" she complained, tapping her stomach.
Inko, listening to both of them, smiled tenderly without taking her eyes off the road.
—We'll be there soon, I have katsudon ready to fry.
"Yes! Katsudon!" Akemi celebrated enthusiastically, raising her arms as if she had just won a battle.
Hades, hearing the name of the dish, couldn't help but smile slightly. That warm stew with crispy rice on top... He liked it more than he'd admit.
But Akemi, with her radar activated to detect any emotion in her partner, noticed his expression and, with a malicious smile, cleared her throat before speaking in a thick tone, trying to imitate his voice.
—"Katsudon is the food of unrefined mortals."
Hades looked at her in disbelief.
-You...
Akemi put a hand to her chest, exaggerating an arrogant pose.
—"The gods do not stoop to consuming something so simple."
Hades narrowed his eyes and growled.
-I hate you...
Akemi leaned towards him with a big mocking smile.
—You say that, but still, I know you love me, deep, deep inside your little heart of stone.
Hades rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, looking away toward the window.
Inko laughed softly, enjoying the dynamic between the two.
Akemi also let out an amused laugh as the car slowed down as it entered the apartment complex parking lot.
"Okay, we're here," Inko announced, stopping the car and taking off her seatbelt.
The three of them left and walked towards the elevator.
As the metal doors closed behind them and the cabin began to rise, Hades felt a slight flutter in his stomach, causing him to frown uncomfortably.
"I hate the feel of this metal box," he muttered, crossing his arms.
Akemi did not miss the opportunity.
—Oh, what's wrong? Is the great Hades afraid of a simple elevator?
"It's not fear!" he blurted out immediately, frowning at her.
Akemi shrugged with a mocking smile.
—As you say, great god of the Underworld.
Inko, noticing his discomfort, gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
—Calm down, Hades-kun, we'll get to our floor soon.
Hades tensed slightly at the contact and glanced at the woman. For some reason, her tone of voice and the warmth of her touch made his discomfort lessen slightly.
"Hmph..." he muttered, looking away.
The elevator doors opened with a soft "ding," and the three of them headed out the apartment door.
"Well, we're here," Inko said with a smile, unbuckling her seatbelt.
The three of them left and walked to the apartment door. Akemi was the first to enter, and without wasting any time, she grabbed some clean clothes and headed into the bathroom.
Hades stood in the living room, looking around curiously. It wasn't huge, but it felt cozy. The warmth of the hearth contrasted with the cold outside, and the aroma of hot broth coming from the kitchen made his stomach flutter.
"You can sit wherever you want," Inko said politely as she walked into the kitchen.
Hades, without saying anything, sat down on a chair near the table.
He watched the woman move naturally as she checked the pots and prepared the final details of the katsudon.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say. He'd spent so much time surrounded by war and death that this scene, so normal and everyday, seemed... strange.
Inko broke the silence first.
—Hades-kun... how have you been feeling since those casts came off?
Hades raised his gaze and met hers. Inko looked at him with tenderness, but also with a hint of genuine concern.
"Fine," he replied simply, looking away.
Inko let out a light laugh and turned to grab some plates.
"Akemi told me a little about you," she continued as she served the food. "She said you were a grumpy sausage who kept fighting with the nurse."
Hades clicked his tongue in annoyance.
—That brat talks too much.
"That's true," Inko laughed, with a warm smile, "but he doesn't usually take just anyone home. If he brought you here, it means he trusts you."
Hades didn't respond. He didn't know if Akemi truly "trusted" him or if she simply saw him as a useful tool.
Inko came closer and leaned in a little, getting closer to him.
"But what worries me most is... how are you feeling, Hades-kun? Not just physically, but here," he said, touching his chest with one hand.
Hades tensed. No one had ever asked him something like that. He couldn't even remember the last time someone had worried about him like this.
He looked away, feeling a strange discomfort.
"It's not something I think about much," he murmured.
Inko watched him silently for a few seconds, before smiling sweetly.
—It's okay. Just remember, if you ever need to talk... you have a home here.
Hades glanced at her. His chest felt strange again, as if something warm and unfamiliar was squeezing his heart.
He looked away quickly and growled under his breath.
—Hmph. I don't need that.
Inko laughed softly.
—Yes, yes, whatever you say.
Hades crossed his arms, looking to the side with a slight grimace.
Why did this woman make him feel this way...?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sound of running water in the bathroom filled the apartment while a delicious aroma wafted through the kitchen. Inko, wearing an apron, stirred the pot with one hand while adding some seasoning with the other.
Her expression was calm and happy, enjoying the cooking process.
A few feet away from her, Hades sat in one of the dining room chairs, watching her with a curious expression. She couldn't remember the last time he'd just sat and watched someone cook. It was a... warm scene.
"Why are you staring at me so much, Hades-kun?" Inko asked with a smile, still staring at her food.
Hades crossed his arms and looked away with a slight blush on his cheeks.
—It's nothing... I'm just trying to understand how mortals prepare their food.
Inko gave a soft laugh and shook her head.
—You're a curious kid, aren't you?
—I'm not a child.
Inko just smiled tenderly and continued cooking.
Time passed between small talks about ingredients and typical Japanese dishes.
Hades showed interest in some topics, although he tried to hide his curiosity with his tsundere attitude.
At one point, Inko took a spoon, blew on it a little, and held it up to Hades.
—Try it and tell me if it tastes good.
Hades looked at her suspiciously at first, but the warmth in Inko's voice made him stand up and take the spoon. He tasted the broth and his eyes widened slightly. It was delicious.
"It's... it's very good," he admitted quietly.
Inko smiled with satisfaction, but what she didn't expect was that Hades, without thinking much about it, rested his head on her shoulder.
Time seemed to stop for a second.
Inko felt a wave of tenderness and warmth run through her chest.
Her smile softened as she continued stirring the pot, enjoying the closeness of the boy who believed himself to be a god.
But Hades, realizing what he was doing, opened his eyes in horror and jerked away, walking to the dining room chairs with a red face.
"W-It was a mistake! It doesn't mean anything!" he exclaimed, awkwardly crossing his arms.
Inko brought a hand to her lips and laughed softly.
—Whatever you say, Hades-kun~
Just then, the bathroom door opened, releasing a cloud of steam. Akemi, her hair wet and wrapped in a bathrobe, emerged with her signature radiant smile.
"Hey, Hades, the bath is ready," he announced, drying his hair with a towel.
Hades nodded and stood up to head to the bathroom, feeling both women's eyes on him.
Before he entered, Akemi pointed at him with a finger.
—But don't take off your clothes yet! I'll get you some pajamas now.
Hades frowned.
—I don't need special clothes to sleep.
—Yes, you need it. I don't want you to walk around in the same dirty clothes.
Without giving him a chance to reply, Akemi went to his room to get him some pajamas while Hades entered the bathroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A while later, the bathroom door opened again and Hades came out, his hair wet and his expression one of pure annoyance.
—...
Akemi and Inko, who were finishing setting the table, turned to him.
The pajamas Akemi had left him were childish, with white and light blue vertical bars. To Hades, they were ridiculous.
Akemi was the first to burst out laughing.
—Pfft! Oh my gosh, it looks perfect on you!
Inko, covering her mouth with one hand, also laughed softly.
—You look very cute, Hades-kun.
The boy, seeing himself cornered, could only grunt with a frown.
—This is humiliating!
Akemi patted him on the back with a big smile.
—Come on, don't be grumpy. Come eat.
Although grumbling, Hades approached the table and sat down.
Dinner in front of him, there was a lush meal.
Several bowls of thick sauces and steaming broths danced with their aromas while the breaded pork provided a delicious contrast to the white rice.
Dinner took place in a warm and family-like atmosphere. Akemi spoke animatedly about some of the things she'd done to help Hades in his rehabilitation, while Inko listened with interest.
Hades, although not participating much in the conversation, enjoyed the food and the relaxed atmosphere.
For the first time in a long time, he felt... at peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After dinner, time passed and sleep began to take hold of Hades.
Without realizing it, he ended up curled up on the sofa, his head resting on one of the cushions.
Akemi and Inko looked at him in silence.
"Sleep so peacefully..." Inko whispered tenderly.
"Yeah, he looks cute when he's not growling," Akemi joked.
They both shared a smile before turning off the lights and heading to their rooms.
The apartment fell silent, with Hades's soft breathing the only sound in the room.
TO BE CONTINUED